Chandler Parson believes LeBron James can play in NBA till he is 45: "He spends the time and the money on his body, in his craft"
At the age of 37, LA Lakers superstar LeBron James is still dazzling fans with his unique display of athletic ability and skill. While he is thought to be in the final stages of his career, former NBA player Chandler Parsons mentioned that James could still be relevant for years to come.
Playing in his 20th season, James still cuts a fine figure for himself at the age of 37. Considering that very few players remain in the league for as long as the superstar has, James establishes himself as the face of longevity in the league.
While there has been a noticeable drop-off in various aspects of his game, LeBron remains an extremely effective player on the court. Whether this involves scoring, playmaking or rebounding, James continues to be a key element for his team.
Talks of James' longevity have been gathering more steam as of late. With LeBron James' son Bronny James on the verge of playing college ball, James has weighed the possibility of playing with his son in the NBA as well.
While the window is two years away, in NBA terms, this could feel like an eternity for a player who has sat atop the league for the majority of their career.
However, former NBA player Chandler Parsons believes that LeBron still has more left in the tank to keep him going. Joining the panel on FanDuel TV's "Run It Back", Parsons expressed the possibility of James playing till he was 45. He said:
"This guy's a physical specimen. Like you just said, he spends the time and the money on his body, in his craft. And we all know he wants to play with his son. We don't even know if he's going to make it to the NBA but I think LeBron's going to do everything possible to stay in shape."
"He's got the physicality. He's got the IQ. I could see him just turning into a 5 or a point guard and playing till 45 and I would not be surprised at all."
Eddie Gonzales chimed in to add that should LeBron take on the identity of an "old, grisled vet" in due time, he could easily extend his career by another six years.
Will LeBron James be playing until he’s 45? 💪
@ChandlerParsons and @bansky on #RunItBack with @MichelleDBeadle https://t.co/m9AWgu2huT
LeBron James could extend his career by taking on a lesser role
Chandler Parsons and Eddie Gonzalez present an interesting notion when considering the adjustments the superstar would have to make to extend his career. Similar to Vince Carter and Udonis Haslem, who took on end-of-bench roles later in their careers, LeBron James could extend his career by simply moving to the bench.
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While James continues to be a pillar for the LA Lakers, he has already picked Anthony Davis as his successor. As he continues to get comfortable taking a back seat, James has remained a solid contributor on the scoring front.
LeBron aspires to play with his son Bronny in the future. Considering these aspirations, the Lakers star could be willing to make some adjustments to ensure the fulfillment of these dreams.
Read: “It’s not about the money at that point” - LeBron James determined to do whatever it takes to play with son Bronny James in his final year
This could involve playing fewer minutes or taking on a smaller role to ensure a sustained presence on the court.
However, this seems unlikely for someone of James' stature. As one of the most dominant players in the game, it is hard to comprehend the thought of LeBron assuming a lesser role on a roster.
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